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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
🎧 I have read a lot of this authors work in the past and really enjoyed them but sadly this one for me isn’t one of my favourites. It started out well and I was really engaged but it lost its way then. It’s told from several points of view which always works well. I didn’t find the storyline anything in the way of different to many others. It felt like it went off in too many different directions with some being unnecessary and I lost interest. The characters were ok enough. The narrator did a good job. Overall it was an enjoyable enough listen just not one of my favourites.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review #IWillRuinYou
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I Will Ruin You is my first time reading Linwood Barclay, and boy he did not disappoint! The story is told from a few different viewpoints, and I loved the way they set the pacing and tone of the book. The pacing was whip quick and there was literally never a dull moment between Richard being blackmailed after saving his school from a student with the intent to kill, drug dealers, and a host of secrets. Barclay even threw the subject of book banning into this timely and heart-racing storyline, making it full of substance as well as suspense.
The audiobook was fantastic and narrated by George Newbern & Johnathan McClain. I have listened to both of them before and they are insanely talented which came through perfectly in I Will Ruin You. I would highly recommend the audio, but it will be a quick read any route you decide to go. I wasn’t sure if there would be any gore, and minus the part in the beginning, there really wasn’t anything too awful, so squeamish readers should be fine. I couldn’t believe where the climax took us, and it raised the hair on my arms it was so mind-blowing! This definitely won’t be the last of me reading Barclay, and I must get to his other books now.
The audiobook was fantastic and narrated by George Newbern & Johnathan McClain. I have listened to both of them before and they are insanely talented which came through perfectly in I Will Ruin You. I would highly recommend the audio, but it will be a quick read any route you decide to go. I wasn’t sure if there would be any gore, and minus the part in the beginning, there really wasn’t anything too awful, so squeamish readers should be fine. I couldn’t believe where the climax took us, and it raised the hair on my arms it was so mind-blowing! This definitely won’t be the last of me reading Barclay, and I must get to his other books now.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Awfully frustrating…this book nearly ruined me but def kept me interested!
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Linwood Barclay is one of my go-to authors for a suspenseful read. I have now read nine of his books and his latest has an intriguing premise that catapults readers into a fast-paced story of lies, omissions and deadly secrets with short chapters that will keep readers glued to the pages.
Hold onto your cozy reading seats because it's going to be a bumpy ride! Barclay hits the ground running with an intense scene that jumpstarts this story where a good deed goes punished, putting a Good Samaritan in the crosshairs of a person out for revenge.
Told with multiple perspectives, the story also boasts a large cast of characters (who were easy to keep track of) with high school teacher Richard at the heart of everything. He's a good guy who makes stupid decisions which help to propel the story forward at a quick pace, but at times the book has an overwhelming feel as one after another issue hits the pages. There are a couple of potential culprits to keep readers guessing (I guessed correctly), but the use of miscommunication felt a bit weak to me.
This suspenseful read will require readers to suspend disbelief at times, but it is a whirlwind of a read that's twisty and compulsive and touches on a few social issues in passing - book banning, school violence, gun violence.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot